Former Adelaide deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad keeping eye on Central Ward election campaigns
A former Adelaide deputy lord mayor is helping candidates running for the seat he left empty with their by-election campaigns – a move likely to score him a complaint to the electoral commissioner.
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Former Adelaide City Council deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad has been in contact with half of the candidates who are seeking election for his vacated central ward seat, giving advice on preference deals and how to run campaigns.
Sources have told The Advertiser he had been helping candidates he believes “will be good for the city”.
Mr Abiad, speaking from Saudi Arabia where he moved to take up a new job, denied setting up any preference deals; however his involvement will be referred to the Electoral Commissioner by political enemy Anne Moran.
Mr Abiad was the leader of the Team Adelaide faction in the council which, with remaining members Simon Hou, Mary Couros, Arman Abrahimzadeh, Franz Knoll and Deputy Lord Mayor Alexander Hyde, risks losing its majority depending on the outcome of the current by-election.
All of the candidates have told The Advertiser they are running as “independents” and not part of any faction.
Mr Abiad denies backing any one of the eight candidates for the seat; however, one of the likely frontrunners, Greg Mackie – chief executive of the History Trust of SA and a high-profile arts administrator – says he was uncertain but “given to understand from other candidates that there is an arrangement in place that would appear to funnel up toward Nathan (Paine)”.
Mr Paine – a lobbyist and former head of the Property Council’s SA division – said he and Mr Abiad had been in contact and had known each other for years through their previous roles, but added no deals were being done.
Mr Abiad denied striking any preference deals or favouring any candidates, but said he had an interest in the election because he is a ratepayer in the ward. “As a ratepayer, I will always keep a close eye on what is happening in Adelaide, that is the reality of the situation,” Mr Abiad said.
“Any advice I can part, any history I can give and any guidance I can provide to anyone, I am always happy to do that.”
He did, however, reach out to Doha Khan after learning about her nomination.
“I sent a message congratulating her because it is quite inspiring to see an 18-year-old young lady run for the election, and also she is Muslim,” Mr Abiad said.
Ms Khan said Mr Abiad contacted her shortly after nominations closed.
“I think that call was more about him showing me what it takes for his team to win the election,’’ Ms Kahn said.
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“He gave me a lot of background about Team Adelaide, he showed me his very extensive database and it was almost like he was dangling that in front of me. He really put a lot of emphasis on preference deals, He didn’t tell me who to preference but he made it clear that it’s best to preference some of the bigger players in the game.
“Shortly after, Nathan Paine gave me a ring and offered me a two-for-two preference deal.’’
Ms Khan said Mr Paine later pulled out of the deal after her election materials had been printed. “He really wanted to know that I was preferencing him above Greg Mackie.’’
Mr Paine said he thought there was “some confusion” as to what had been agreed, but it was his understanding Mr Abiad had “pretty much spoken to all of the candidates’’.
An electoral commission spokesman said the Commission was the investigating authority under Section 92 of the Local Government (Elections) Act to conduct investigations and, where necessary, bring proceedings for an offence through the courts.
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor was contacted for comment.